Friday, Jul 01, 2016 at 00:20
The Lead Acid battery isn't going away anytime soon. It's proven technology, it is able to be constantly improved, and it's fully recyclable.
In some
places, 95% of LA batteries are being recycled. America is still building new, state-of-the-art L-A battery factories.
There are more improvements to come yet in the L-A battery field. The addition of silver and calcium to L-A batteries has improved their performance substantially.
There are constant improvements in examining the grain structure of the cast lead, and fine-tuning the lead plate fabrication processes, to improve battery performance.
There is an international organisation called the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC), headquartered in North Carolina.
ALABC are dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of the lead-acid battery to ensure its competitiveness in various energy storage markets.
The next, improved L-A battery of note, will be the Lead Acid/Carbon hybrid battery.
Already, the Bi-Polar L-A battery is in production. Bi-Polar L-A batteries produce power from both sides of the plates - unlike standard L-A batteries that only produce power from one side of the plates.
The result is more power from less weight, more power efficiency - and the bi-polar batteries can be produced on regular battery-making production lines at very little extra cost.
ALABC
As far as current batteries go, I can only relate my own experiences over 5 decades of owning a large array of vehicles, plant and equipment.
I used Cat batteries in earthmoving plant because vibration is a major problem for batteries. Vibration shakes the plates and cracks them, and they fail.
In addition, sludge buildup in the bottom of the case, from lead decomposition, shorts out the plates, and the battery fails.
Cat batteries have plates bonded to the bottom of the case, so they resist vibration better. Cat batteries also have more clearance in the bottom of the case, so the sludge can reach higher levels without shorting the plates.
Heat is also a battery killer. Keep your batteries cool and they will last longer. Most modern engine bays get very hot, and a battery location where that heat can reach the battery is not good.
The ideal battery position is
well away from radiator heat, exhaust system heat and turbo heat.
As far as battery brands go, I can state without a word of a lie, that I have had a Japanese Yuasa battery last in a ute for 9 yrs and 6 months - and a Supercharge Gold battery in a ute last for 10yrs and 4 mths.
These were both exceptional life from batteries - most batteries struggle to reach 5 years - but I have no problem recommending both brands, as I've had very good life from these brands repeatedly.
I currently have a Supercharge Gold in my Hilux that I scavenged from "Bombs Away", a car scrapping operation.
I paid $30 for it, and the date of manufacture is July 2009. It's been in the Hilux for nearly 2 years and it still performs admirably.
When I bought this battery, I charged it overnight, using an electronic battery desulfating device called Infinitum.
I swear this little device is
well worth the relatively small amount of money it costs.
The U.S. Military use them, so it's not dubious "tinfoil hat" technology - it simply works. The desulfator "pulses" the charge current to break up sulfation, and this prolongs the battery life.
I currently have 3 Exide Extremes, which promise to be good batteries, but I have not yet had them long enough to form an opinion on them or to report on their lifespan.
When a battery manufacturer offers 40 or 48 mths warranty, you can be sure you're getting a very good product.
Cheers, Ron.
AnswerID:
602001
Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Friday, Jul 01, 2016 at 08:13
Friday, Jul 01, 2016 at 08:13
These a few interesting points in your reply Ron Thanks.
FollowupID:
871596
Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, Jul 01, 2016 at 08:53
Friday, Jul 01, 2016 at 08:53
Just a couple of examples of battery longevity. My father in law had an HZ Holden
sedan, 253 V8, purchased new. Sold it 7 years later with the original battery.
My late dad had a Datsun 1200 wagon and the original battery lasted
well over 5 years. During my working life, have had batteries last from 12 months to less than 3 years, mostly in Landcruisers. As Ron mentioned heat, the later Landcruisers seem to "care" for their batteries somewhat better than the older models, or maybe the batteries are better?
Bob
FollowupID:
871597
Follow Up By: mike39 - Sunday, Jul 03, 2016 at 10:47
Sunday, Jul 03, 2016 at 10:47
Ronn says he has 3 Exide extremes. I also have 3 extremes, one starter, one under the tray and one in the caravan. They are all in parallel wIth a Bosch solenoid between the starter and the 2 aux. ones. When stationary a manual switch bypasses the solenoid to achieve full parallel connection.
The batteries power a 60l Trailblaza freezer on the tray, a 90l Engel van fridge, general lighting and radio. Charging is via the truck alternator, 160w of solar and/or 30a. of 240/12v. 3 stage battery charger from Honda generator.
We remote
camp around 4-5 months every winter, these batteries were all purchased at the same time being 2/09/2011. (nearly 5 yrs.)
As I write this we are WA bush camped, no sun and after 1&1/2 hrs. on the battery charger the charging rate is now down from 30 to 7a.@ 14v. after a warm night running the fridges.
Maybe this says why I am still a fan of conventional LA batteries. These 3 have lots of life left given proper charging regimes.
Mike
FollowupID:
871653
Follow Up By: garrycol - Monday, Jul 04, 2016 at 13:03
Monday, Jul 04, 2016 at 13:03
My RRS still has its original battery in it after 9 years - even starts on cold
Canberra mornings. It doesnt like it if I forget about the glow plugs but will start the car - is beginning to struggle a little and if I went on a trip it would be replaced but for my current use is OK. If I get through this winter it will be Ok until next winter.
FollowupID:
871684